WithacertainhalfironyofrecollectionhehadselectedJimHookertoaccompanythepartyasavolunteer。Thisdone，hereturnedtothegallery。Thesurgeonmethimatthedoor。
\"Theindicationsofconcussionarepassingaway，\"hesaid，\"butsheseemstobesufferingfromtheexhaustionfollowingsomegreatnervousexcitement。Youmaygoin——shemayrallyfromitatanymoment。\"
Withtheartificialstepandmysterioushushoftheordinaryvisitortoasickbed，Brantenteredtheroom。Butsomeinstinctgreaterthanthiscommonexpressionofhumanityheldhimsuddenlyinawe。Theroomseemednolongerhis——ithadslippedbackintothataustereconventualprivacywhichhadfirstimpressedhim。Yethehesitated；anotherstrangesuggestion——itseemedalmostavaguerecollection——overcamehimlikesomelingeringperfume，faroffandpathetic，initsdyingfamiliarity。Heturnedhiseyesalmosttimidlytowardsthebed。Thecoverletwasdrawnupnearthethroatofthefiguretoreplacethestripedcottongownstainedwithbloodanddust，whichhadbeenhurriedlytornoffandthrownonachair。
Thepaleface，cleansedofbloodanddisguisingcolor，thelonghair，stilldampfromthesurgeon’ssponge，layrigidlybackonthepillow。Suddenlythismanofsteadynerveutteredafaintcry，and，withafaceaswhiteastheupturnedonebeforehim，fellonhiskneesbesidethebed。Forthefacethatlaytherewashiswife’s！
Yes，hers！Butthebeautifulhairthatshehadgloriedin——thehairthatinhisyouthhehadthoughthadoncefallenlikeabenedictiononhisshoulder——wasstreakedwithgrayalongtheblue-